Indoor Air Quality

In the ‘50s and ‘60s, the Houston Ship Channel was so full of dumped oil that beach-goers sometimes had to rinse the greasy residue off themselves before going inside to bathe. Communities like Texas City had hazy, odoriferous air. We began to care about managing water pollution and air pollution. We’ve made progress, but there’s [...]

Indoor air pollution is one of the top five environmental health risks. -U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Homes, commercial businesses, and offices can benefit from the advantages of cleaner air. Air cleaning and filtering devices are designed to remove pollutants from indoor air. Indoor Air Pollutants The quality of the indoor air we breathe can be [...]

When it comes to air pollution, there’s no place like home. -This Old House You don’t have to see them to know they’re out there: Summer allergens. But did you know they’re in your house, too? Houses are built tighter and better insulated than ever before. But according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the [...]

The New York Times says Houston has an “unsinkable housing market” despite Hurricane Harvey. Recently, a house hunter said a home in Harris County smelled funky during its open house. “They swore they hadn’t had water damage, but the entire place smelled like a wet dog. A dirty, wet dog.” Even the cooler temperatures of [...]

North Houston is in Zone 2 of the IECC/IRC Climate Zones map. That means we live in a hot, moist climate, which is no news to any of us! Here in this part of the country, we use attic ventilation to keep our homes cooler. Our homes “expel solar-heated hot air to lessen the building [...]

Most of us have environmentally conscious lifestyles and indoor air quality (IAQ) is everyone’s business, not just HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) professionals. Here are some common causes of air smells, but when you notice an odor, use your other senses, too. Listen for unusual noises and look for water drips on your floor as [...]

IAQ is “indoor air quality.” The air quality inside buildings and homes is something that is a fairly recent concern for our global population. Understanding the common causes of poor indoor air quality and controlling air pollutants can lower your risks of health problems. Some of the health effects of poor indoor air include: Asthma [...]

There might be a loaded gun inside your home! It’s not your six-shooter, it’s your air. The importance of indoor air quality is no longer debatable; we all recognize the health benefits of cleaner air. Change your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) filters frequently to improve the quality of ventilated breathing spaces. Allergy Triggers [...]

Most of us spend 90% of our time indoors! Here are some stunning facts about indoor air quality from consumer advocates at Greenguard Certification: Indoor air is 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Many home ventilation systems simply recirculate the “bad air” and minimize cleaner outdoor air. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) reports [...]

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is just as important as keeping kitchen and bathroom surfaces clean from harmful bacteria. Perhaps we take it for granted because poor air quality isn’t something we can see. “Out of sight, out of mind,” can mean your home or office air quality could be unhealthy, and the people you care [...]

Even though you maintain high standards of cleanliness in your home, the stale air trapped inside could be making you sick. In our Gulf Coast area, where we keep the home closed up for a good part of the year with the air conditioner on, indoor air pollution can contribute to allergies and respiratory problems. [...]

Changing your HVAC system's air filter regularly can save you as much as 15 percent on your utility bills by improving the efficiency of your air conditioner or furnace. But that's not the only reason to change a dirty air filter. Replacing a filter before it's so dirty that it affects airflow can also spare [...]

Changing the HVAC filter is one of the easiest things you can do to ensure your air conditioner and heating system run properly. Surprisingly, many homeowners avoid changing the filter regularly, allowing it to collect dirt, which causes problems that range from inefficient operation to system breakdown. Read on to learn about signs that a [...]

Residential air filters are generally located out of sight in the home, in a wall or sometimes a ceiling. That means most homeowners give little thought to whether air filters are dirty or in need of replacement. To ensure good indoor air quality. However, your air filters need regular replacement. Dirty Air Filters and Supply [...]

How good is your indoor air quality? Maybe you don't give it much thought, assuming that your HVAC system does an adequate job of adequately keeping the air fresh. That assumption would be wrong, however. Here's why. There are myriad airborne particulates swirling around in your home. Some may be harmless, but a good many [...]

More than likely, you enjoy having a clean home. You probably expend considerable energy keeping the surfaces clean, as well as making sure laundry and dishes are regularly washed and put away. But how much thought do you give to your home's air? Frankly, the good health of your household depends not only in topical [...]

You'd think we would get a break from allergies in the winter, but unfortunately for us Texans, that doesn't happen. In winter, we are subjected to mountain cedar pollen, an allergen that affects us in the southern part of the state from December through March. And, even when mountain cedar isn't the culprit, we can [...]

You might think we'd get a break from allergies in the winter time, but anyone who's lived in Texas for a while knows that's not so. If you're outdoors for any length of time from December through March, you're likely to encounter allergy triggers. Symptoms are similar to hay fever, including congestion, runny nose, sneezing [...]

You probably would be surprised to find out all the negative impacts a dirty HVAC air filter can have on your home's comfort, energy efficiency and air quality. While simple to replace, the air filter performs a vital function in your forced-air central air conditioning or heating system. Learn why a dirty or clogged air [...]

Indoor air pollution infiltrates your home silently, without notice, lurking in the most unsuspecting places and hiding in broad daylight as you go about your day. It can be a greater threat to your health than the smoke and smog that billows outdoors, leading to a range of health problems. Recent studies have shown that [...]